Guatemala Guide
Antigua
The Palace of the Captains General
Address: South side of Parque Central
The squat two-storey facade of the Palace of the Captains General features a row of 27 arches along each floor. It was originally built in 1558, but as usual the first version was destroyed by earthquakes. It was rebuilt in 1761, only to be damaged again in 1773 and finally restored along the lines of the present structure. The palace was home to the colonial rulers and also housed the barracks of the dragoons, the stables, the royal mint, law courts, tax offices, great ballrooms, a large bureaucracy, and a lot more besides.